Enterprise Agency and Chamber merge

The previously government-funded business advice organisation – the Enterprise Agency – has transferred its business to the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce to ensure that Brighton still has a local business support service.

The Enterprise Agency, based in Old Steine, Brighton, was struggling to deliver its services under a new funding regime introduced earlier this year.

At the same time the chamber of commerce was dealing with more and more requests for help in starting and running a business. The decision to merge the two organisations means an expansion for the role of the chamber and the continuation of local business support services albeit more limited that those provided by the Enterprise Agency.

Julie Stanford, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “By joining together in this way we can combine our strengths and build on our reputation for providing something which Brighton and Hove businesses need and deserve: a local support organisation based in the city, run by business owners for business owners."

The chamber has appointed Enterprise Agency administrator Rachel Godart-Brown to be its new manager working from offices in Hove.